I have always been drawn in by science's experimentation and interactivity and the ways in which they allow one to take a subject or idea and pivot it in an entirely new direction. As a child, I was always fascinated by physics concepts like Newton's laws of gravity, energy, and motion theories. During summers, I would spend hours drawing and creating Rube Goldberg machines and trying to find ways to bring them to life with whatever materials I had on hand. I would experiment with different objects and masses and try to transport them from one place to another. A similar thing occurs during the process of animation, where we have to learn and understand how different amounts of mass will influence the movement of an object from place to place. These foundations have helped and influenced my animation practice' allowing me to create projects where characters look and appear to function in the real world—allowing for more interactive life-like motions to appear on screen. Both science and animation are fundamentally about coming up with original, creative ideas, carrying them out, and getting them in front of as many people as possible. Projects in animation, just like scientific research, can take many years to complete. Typically, a movie takes 2.5 years to make and two years to develop. Our script concepts—which we test beforehand with audiences—could likewise be recognized as story hypotheses. Naturally, there are a lot of "peer" reviews after a movie is made public. We feel a strong sense of attachment to our work because of the time spent on it. Animation is a science- To be more concise; animation is the collision of art and science. Next semester through my instituitions' astro-animation program, I will get the opportunity to work in conjunction with scientists at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. During the five-week project, I will be working with a collaboration of my peers and Goddard scientists to turn NASA's data into a series of fun, explorative short films. In addition to collaborating with NASA, I will also have the honor of being enrolled in artist Kelli Williams's interactive New Media course, where I will combine art and the science of Augmented Reality. The course will allow me to learn fundamental digital skills related to data literacy and time-based media- such as mapping, infographics, designing information, and media communication. These new combined skills will help me use information to create multimedia art and design work for various digital and physical outputs with conceptual and ethical framing. With these experiences, I will combine my love for science and combine them, allowing for the ability to reach new audiences and communities. With rising tuition costs, I am hoping that this scholarship will allow me to continue on this journey and open doors for more new and exciting ventures.

We live in a very heterogeneous world that is forever growing and evolving. So when it comes to public relations, diversity must be part of the narrative. Hiring more employees from diverse backgrounds to ensure that employees can work together to widen the conversation and create cross-cultural communications is vital. Cross-cultural communication is an integral part of public relations, and too often, this aspect of the public communications sector. Reflecting on the culture within the company is the first step in effective cross-cultural communication, ensuring cultural differences are identified and addressed. Noticing these differences leads to adjusting perceptions and openness to learning about other cultures. It is best to avoid generalizations and ask questions rather than presuming stereotypical characteristics of particular cultures- this is where having diverse voices comes into play. It is essential for an organization not solely to maintain a favorable public image on the outside but also to be able to portray that image from within. Therefore, diverse voices in public relations are necessary and play an impactful role in how a community views an organization. Diversity, in general, brings together people and ideas that otherwise may have never coincided. Openness and ease of flow in communication are crucial when attempting to appeal to a broad spectrum of people and cultures. When cross-cultural communication goes wrong, it is often cultural appropriation. Cultural appropriation, more times than not, happens in PR when professionals use minority cultures for financial or commercial gains without any genuine understanding or interest in the culture. The public relations industry must gain understanding and give companies the tools to communicate more empathically and prevent the use of derogatory stereotypes that harm people in marginalized groups. It is essential to recognize the impact and influence that one possesses when speaking to a wide array of people. Researchers have found that long-term television viewing predicts lower self-esteem for all girls and black boys, but higher self-esteem for white boys, according to research. These disparities are related to Hollywood's racial and gender casting practices, which tend to present white men as heroes while eliminating or demeaning other groups by casting them as antagonists, sidekicks, and sexual objects. Additionally, research demonstrates how Native American teenagers and young adults—who have a high suicide rate—have lower self-esteem and are negatively affected by media depictions of their mascots. Beyond the direct consequences on particular audience groups, racial pictures presented as entertainment may distort how all viewers perceive and classify people—resulting in wrong and unfair stereotypes and perceptions trickling from television screens and into our society. Again, hiring a diverse team is the best approach to tackle these issues head-on. In order to avoid having a culture devoid of diversity or a failed campaign, invite everyone to sit down at the table and participate in the discussion from the start. With the right approach, PR professionals can become leaders in increasing diversity across the communications industry.

From the time I was little, my grandfather has always pushed me to explore art. Every summer, he would take me on walks through neighboring parks and zoos in the city so that we could admire the art of nature around us. He would push me to explore and draw the life around me. Art-wise, my grandfather has been the most significant influence in my life. Eventually, as I got older, he began to teach me some of his digital tools. He is the one who first introduced me to digital editing and graphics. Whenever he could, he would teach me about the latest design trends and software, and what he did not know, he would take time to learn so that he could later teach me. When I was 15, he gifted me a desktop so that I could work on my digital creations at home. I would say that it was probably one of the best, if not the best, gift someone had given me because it meant that I no longer had to wait until school if I had a digital creation that I wanted to make. After I graduate with my degree in animation and launch my career, I will become a part of the 2% Black women in stem and one of the 3.9% African Americans in the animation industry. But I do not plan to stop there. If there is one thing my grandfather taught me, it's to go above and beyond in everything you do. Be extra and when you think that you are finished, push yourself to go farther. Once I build up my skills, it is my plan to launch an animation studio of my own. A studio that is focused on community and is diverse while reflecting on the heterogeneousness of the beautiful earth in which we live. My studio will forefront the stories of communities that are way too often left untold. I want young girls and boys to view works from my studio and grow up knowing they were fearfully and wonderfully made. I hope to someday be able to reach out and inspire little black and brown children in the same way that my grandfather did. I want to push them to mold their own paths and that when the world says that something is impossible, push back and do twice because nothing is impossible unless you let it.

For as long as I can remember, I have always struggled with it. I thought it was just shyness, the same that everyone else did. I assumed that, like everyone else, I just had a fear of public speaking. I did not realize just how much of my life it was impacting. This “it” that I speak of, “it,” has a name. Anxiety is its name. As a little girl, I did not know why I did not speak. I did not understand why I always felt so itense or why my body was constantly in pain whenever I was out in public. I did not know what anxiety was or realize that I was always putting myself down with thoughts racing through my mind. To me, It was just the way I was. These are not the kind of things that you notice as a kid. People told me that I was just shy and that I would grow out of it, so that is what I believed. Both of my parents were Marines, so I was constantly switching schools and moving around the country. As a result, I did not have many connections with people, and the relationships that I did make, I would often lose within a year or so. By the time we finally settled down, I was in the eighth grade, and I was becoming pretty depressed, and I began isolating myself. For years I felt utterly cut off from the world but engulfed by it simultaneously. I was scared. Time and space seemingly froze and then fast-forwarded. I was alone, and I was lost. The only thing that kept me that had kept me afloat was my tiny mustard seed of faith that I held onto. Without it, I would have completely drowned. These days I have been doing much better. I have been taking full advantage of the resources around me and ensuring that I get the help I need. I have been dedicating a lot of my time to participating in programs such as the AKAette Scholarship Program, where I volunteer to help uplift and empower those in my community and attend group therapy sessions. I have realized that I am more than just my downfalls. I have made mistakes. I have let my depression get the best of me in the past. But that was the past, and I am a different person now. I persevere through even the hardest of days. I am an innovator and creative thinker. I strive to make positive changes for those around me. Within the next four years, I hope to achieve my degree in animation and launch my career, allowing me to become one of the 2% of Black women in stem and one of the 3.9% of African Americans in the animation industry. It is my dream to make it into the animation industry and promote the productions and animations of more diverse characters and backgrounds. In the future, I want to build an animation studio of my own. A studio that is diverse and reflects the heterogeneousness of the beautiful earth in which we live. I hope to use what I have learned from my battles with depression and anxiety to uplift others who may have also gone through or are going through the same thing. I want to mold a studio that focuses on community, and uplifting others, a studio that inspires and spreads hope. I want young girls and boys to view works from my studio and grow up knowing they were fearfully and wonderfully made.

My favorite art piece is Daniel Poppers Thrive sculpture. While I was never able to find out the original meaning behind the piece, I like to interpret it as a piece that showcases hope, resilience, and the beauty within. While it may not have been the artists' intention, I see this piece as a story of perseverance. A lot of the things that I see in this artwork are things that I also feel I sometimes see in my own life, and not just that, but also the world around me. Everyone has a personal struggle or something that they are going through. For some, it may be work or family. For many others, including me, it's mental health. Whatever the personal struggle may be, while it may leave us a bit frayed and scarred, I feel as though if you can maintain even the smallest amount of hope, you may be able to persevere, grow, and thrive. That idea, that thought, that belief, is something that I find so beautiful. I think that the imagery of something being 'broken' and cracked, yet thriving, is something that many people can relate to. It is something that I often relate to on a very personal level. That is why Daniel Poppers Thrive sculpture is so beautiful to me. It inspires me to persevere and thrive.

The best way to live a long healthy life is to make sure that you take time to show love and support towards yourself in the chaos of everything. One of the ways that I like to do that is to reflect on and take note of the way I have been treating myself and my body. Take time to ask yourself about the kind of thoughts you have been having lately. Are they positive or negative? For example, have you been getting enough sunlight, or how much water have you been drinking? Once you get an idea of how you have been treating yourself, note down how you can improve.

My biggest goal in life is to help inspire others and give everyone the chance to feel seen and heard. I want young girls and boys to be able to see themselves, and have a reason to dream. I want to inspire people to do the impossible no matter what life might look like around them. To achieve my college and career goals, I plan to travel and learn more about the beautiful heterogeneous world surrounding me. I also want to experiment with and invent different combinations of storytelling that will change the animation industry. After completing college, I hope to build an animation studio of my own. A studio that is diverse and reflects the heterogeneousness of the beautiful earth in which we live.

I honestly sometimes feel so weird about the last two years. Like time and space seemingly froze and then fast-forwarded. I was a completely different person. We all were. My entire life, I have struggled with anxiety. In school, I never spoke to anyone. My goal was always to go unnoticed. Because of this, I have struggled a lot with things like mental health and opening up to other people. A few years ago, I decided that I would no longer let fear and anxiety control my life. I began speaking with a therapist and actively began stepping out of my comfort zone and making some new friends. During that time, things were looking great for me. I was feeling more adventurous and hopeful. I was also gearing up to attend my first school dance, which I had been actively avoiding since middle school. Then suddenly, in March of 2020, we went into lockdown, and everything began going left from there. I was alone, and I was lost. I felt as though I was adrift at sea. Being engulfed by the waves and then seamlessly being spit back out. The moment I found something to hang onto, I was being pulled back in. The only thing that kept me that had kept me afloat was my tiny mustard seed of faith and fear of complete failure. Without them, I would have completely drowned. These days I have been doing much better. I have been taking full advantage of the resources around me and ensuring that I get the help I need. One of my most prominent qualities is perseverance. I keep going, even when I don’t feel like it or when it seems as though life is impossible. I am a perseverer.

Hello, I’m Makaila. I am a junior in high school who is interested in pursuing a career in animation. After completing college, my dream is not just to work for a major animation company but to start my own animation studio that specializes in creating animations that promote more diversity on the screen. My desire is to travel and learn about different places and cultures so that I can depict the beauty of our amazing heterogeneous world through animation. As I reflect on my life, movies had the biggest impact, and as I begin to leave high school and prepare for college, it is clear to me that I want to spend my life and make a difference in this world through animation. I want to be able to inspire people and give everyone the chance to feel seen and heard across different mediums. I want to be able to inspire people and give everyone the chance to feel seen and heard across different mediums.I want to make positive changes that further advance those around me. After high school I plan to study at a higher university and earn my BFA in animation . My main goal is to make it into the animation industry and promote the productions and animations of more diverse characters and backgrounds.To achieve my college and career goals I plan to practice my animation and storytelling skills to better myself to change the animation industry and learn more about the diverse places and people around me. Characters from underrepresented communities will take main leads in my films. My animations will share stories that raise awareness of marginalized groups of people. On and off the screen in the animation industry there are not a lot of people of color behind the scenes and I want to help change that. While representation in the film industry is slowly getting better, I hope to work on shows and movies that allow for more people of different cultures to see themselves as main characters without having them be stereotyped. Oftentimes what we see in film and in media can affect how we view ourselves. They also have the ability to promote self love. I want to show my viewers that we are all different but that is good, and at the end of the day we are all wonderfully and fearfully made. I want little girls and boys to be able to see themselves on screen and know that they are smart and beautiful and that there is nothing wrong with them. Children’s earlier experiences shape what they imagine to be possible. For a person to be able to walk into a theater and see someone who looks like them or who comes from their background is inspiring. At the end of the day, I hope that by opening up my own animation studio, I will be able to help inspire people all over the world and give everyone the chance to be seen and heard.

Bold Moments. For a while, I have been looking to submit my art for an art contest, but I have always been hesitant to do so. But this year I decided to push past my fears and decided to make and submit some art pieces that I thought really represented this year. My first piece, Hold on Pain Ends (HOPE) represents the adversity of this year. My second piece, Home, is a little more straightforward. It represents, home. While I did not win the contest, I was also very proud of my submissions.